Ignition apparatus.



L WOLFFSOHN, NOW BY JUDICIAL CHANGE OF NAME, L. WOOLSON.

IGNITION APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED APR. 30. 1915.

1 ,27 9, 8 1 6 Patented Sept. 24, 1918.

WI T/VE 88E 8:

' ATTORNEY UNITED STATE$ PATENT OFFICE.

LIGNEL WOLFFSOHN, (NOW BY JUDICIAL CHANGE OF NAME LIONEL M. VVOOLSOI\T,) OF HOBOKEN, NEXV JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO BIJUR MOTOR APPLIANCE COIMPANY, A CORPORATION '01 DELAWARE. I

IGNITIQN APPARATUS.

To all who/11 712? may concern:

Be it known that I, Lioivm. YVoLrrsoHN, a citizen of the United States, and-residing at Hoboken, in thecoiuity of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented a. new and Improved Ignition. Apparatus of which the following specification is a full disclosure.

This invention relates to ignition apparatus for 'iternal combustion engines.

One of the objects thereof is to provide practical apparatus of the above type adapted automatically to meet changing conoitions of running with improved uniformity in action. ihiother object is to provide in ignition apparatus simple and reliable means for reducing undesirable sparking. Another object is to provide ignition apparatus in which the current is economically used under all conditions.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the -features of construction combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the following description and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in. the appended claims.

in the accompanying drawing in which is shown one or more of various, possible embodiments of the several features of this invention. Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan of one oi the same. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic ation of driving connections. Fig. 3 is a dhgrammatic plan of somewhat ditlereut apparatus.

Similar reference characters refer to simiparts throughoutthe several views of the awing.

l eitcr-ring now to Fig. l of the-drawing, there is indicated at 1 the commutator of an electric generator indicated at this generator being driven from an internal combustion eugii 1e and serving to perform. the funcli ns hereinafter described; Generator-2 is here indicated as of the four-pole type with cross connectedcommutator segments, the main brushes being thus spaced about ninety degrees and are indie-at d at 3 and .l. From these brushes which are substantially at neutral points at the co: snutator there are led conductors 5 and 6 the former passing to a stationary contact 7 of a reverse current re lay ormain switch 8, The; spring retracted Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept.'24=; 1 918. Application filed April-30, 1915. Serial No. 24,846.

movable contact 9 of-this switch is connected as by conductor 10 with a storage battery 11, the remaining terminal of which passes through the series coil 12 of the switch 8 to join conductor 6. The switch 8 acts in a well-known way to. prevent reverse discharge of the battery 11 through the genera tor when the latter is. standingstill or running at a slow speed. When, however, thegenerator speed rises to a predetermined degree, the field of its voltage coil .13 attracts the armature or swinging contact 9 and closes the, switch; the coil 8 thereupon acting cumulatively to tend to hold the switch .18, however, is operativelyrclated to. the

swingingcontact l7 andv upon the generator specdrc-aclung a high value, the field of COLl l8 becomes of such strength that it actuates contact 1'? to break the. shunt about resistance 1'5 and thus materially weaken the ge erator hold. This. action is repeated with a frequency dependingnpon the generator speed and thus tends tomainlain. the voltage of the generator output substantially constant. A low tennjierat ure cocllicicnt re tance 18 is preferably-in series with coil 19. lilountcd upon cou'imutator l. at a point. oli'sct from any of the neutral points and spaced. in this case, at about forty degrees from the brush 1':, is an auxiliary brush 19. From this brush a conductor 20 leads thro h the primary coil 21 of an induction coil the secondary 23 of which is adapted to receive a high voltage induced current for the ignition devices diagrannnatically indicated at From coil 21 a conductor 25 leads to a circuit interrupting member 26 which, swinging about the axis 27, separates the coasting contacts 28 and thus interrupts the circuit. Member 26 is preferably actuated by a cam 29 coacting-.with roller 30 upon the swinging arm and driven in a suitable way from the internal combustion enginei.

The contacts 28 of the above interrupting device are bridged about by a condenser 31 and an additional condenser section is connected between the contact member 26 and the field circuit of the generator as at 33.

It will thus be seen that the coil 18, with associated parts, tends to regulate the voltage of the output of generator 2, but. it may benoted that many. of the advantages of this invention are achieved in apparatus in which the generator current is maintained substantially constant and it may also be noted that the term function of this current is used herein broadly to denote any characteristic thereof such aseither its voltage or curren value. Terms of the nature of interrupt are also broadly used herein as descriptive of an action in which the current is so changedxas to gain a substantial effect of a cessation, although the circuit is not necessarily' completely broken.

As shown. in Fig. 2 offthe drawings, the generator 2 is driven from the'internal com bustion engine 34 through a coupling 35 so formed as to permit a slight relative angular movement between the shaft sections 34 and 34". This may be accomplished by providing the coupling member 36 with a lug 37 and forming in coupling member 38 a circumferential slot 40 within which the lug 37 is permitted a limited range of movement. The interrupter cam 29 is also driven from engine 34 through the generator 2 as diagrammatically indicated in the drawing. Considering now the action of the above described apparatus, the generator, being driven from the engine, serves upon its voltage rising to a proper point, to charge the battery 11in the usual way. The voltage of the generator output, moreover, is regulated by voltage coil 18 which becomes effective with rise of speed of the generator and which breaks the shunt 16 with a frequency varying with the speed so that under conditions of extremelyfast running, this shunt is broken a large proportion of the time.

Considering now the ignition apparatus, an ignition circuit is connected as shown between brush 3 and brush 19, it being understood that the term ignition circuit is broadly used to denote a circuit in ignition apparatus but not necessarily that in which the spark plugs are positioned. When the switch 8 is open and the hand ignition switch 11 is closed, as in the starting of the engine, the coil 21 is connected across the battery thus giving substantially full battery voltage and resulting in strong ignition current to start the engine under otherwise adverse conditions. If, however, the switch 41 be left closed with the engine stopped and with cam 29 in such position as to leave contacts 28 in engagement, then there might be not only a long continued leakage of battery current but a possible heating of 'cer tain of the parts through which this current flows. In the present case, however, the flow of this current is such that it tends to rotate the generator 2 acting as a motor in the direction of drive of the engine 34. A iimited range of rotation of the dynamo armature is permitted by the loose connection at. 35 and this movement is sufficient to so rotate cam 29 as to move the contacts 28 out of engagement one with another and thus stop the leakage of current. Assuming,

however, that the engine is started, and that its speed increases to the point at which switch 8 closes, the ignition circuit will then be supplied from the generator as it is bridged between brushes 3 and 19. Assuming the direction of drive of the generator to be that indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1 of the drawing, there is a tendency as the generator speed increases to rotate the neutral points of the magnetic field in this direction, that is, from the brush 1 toward the brush 19. This action, which is due partially to the armature reaction and also, in this case, to the weakening of the field by the regulating apparatus, reduces the potential difference between brushes 4 and 19 and correspondingly increases the voltage between brush 19 and brush 3. This field distortion increases as the speed increases and thus the voltage impressed upon coil 21 also increases as the engine speed increases, without interfering in any way with the regulation of the. current fed to battery 11. In this manner, as the engine speeds up and the time of contact of the members 28 becomes more brief, with a consequent tendency to lessen the value which the current in coil 21 attains, this being due to the self-induction of the latter device, there is impressed upon the circuit an increasing voltage which olfsets this action and results in approximately uniform ignition current under all conditions of running.

It will also be noted that before the switch 8 is closed, the condenser section 32 is inoperative as it is not bridged either directly or indirectly about contacts 28. At this stage, which corresponds to aslow speed of running, the current in the ignition circuit is slightly lower than with higher generator speeds as the impressed voltage is merely that of the discharge voltage of the battery. When, however, the switch 8 is closed, the current in the ignition circuit is derived from the generator as this action does not occur until the generator voltage predominates over that of the battery. With this condition, it will be seen that the condenser section 32 is added in effect to the condenser section 31 as both are bridged about the contacts 28. The main switch 8 will not close until a certain generator speed has been reached, and. as this speed increases to and past such point, the total effective but is made the subject-matter of my mee s-1e condensing apparatus about contacts 28 is thus also increased; As the generator speed increases still further, there is, with the present apparatus, a: slight tendency todecrease oi current in the-ignition circuit and as this speed is approached the eflieet ot' condenser section 32- is progressively decreased, due to the increasing frequency with which coil l8 'breaks the shunt about the resistance element D5 The capaeity' bridged about the interrupter is thus variedfwith the engine speed, and I have found that. 1 can thus gain-a more effective ignition with a given'amountot sper 'ng at the interrupter contacts.

In Fig-3 ofi the -drawing is: shown apparatus ini-which certain features-of this invention areenibodied and which comprises a generator, commutator, electric switch and storage battery, substantially as in the apparatus hereinbefore described. The field winding 42, however; is bridged between the brushes t and 19 and, due to armature reaction, isautomatically weakened as the speed of the generator rises for-reasons hereinbefore described. With a proper proportioning'o-i th'e'various coils, this connection of the field will give a constant or drooping charging current of the generator.- Here also,- as in the apparatus first described, the ignition coil 21 is connected between brushes Sand 19 and thusits circuit impressed thereon an automatically: increasing voltage as the speed of the generator'rises, and all Without interference with the substantial constancy ofthe current output of the generator. 1 i

The arrangement for connecting the ignition circuit to derivecurrent from the generator taken by itself: is not claimed herein,

copending application Serial No. 165,307,. filed April 30th, 1917, which copending application is a continuation of the present application as to all common subject-matter.

It will thus be seen. that there is provided apparatus in which the various objects of this invention are achieved and ini which the several. advantages hereinbefore noted are gained. V

As many changes might be made in the above. construction, and as many apparently different embodiments might be made of this inuentionWithout departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that-all features herein described or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpretedeas illustrative and not in a limiting sense;

Having thus revealed this invention, 1 claim as new and desire to secure the follou in g combinations of el ments, or equivalents thereof, by Letters Patent of the United States:

1. In ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines, in combination, an internal combustion engine, a battery, a gen erator driven from said engine, an ignition circuit comprising an interrupter driven from said engine and mechanically connected with said generator, connections from said battery to said ignition circuit, and meansadapted, upon said battery supplying said ignition circuit with said engine at rest to cause said generator to move as a motor and turnsaid interrupter to circuit opening position,

2. In ignition apparatus for internal combustionengines, in combination, an internal combustion engine, a generator driven from said engine through a connection adapted to permit a limi'ed range of turning movement of thegenerator armature with respect to the en ine. a battery, an ignition circuitcomprising an interrupter driven from said engine through said generator, connections from said battery to said ignition circuit, and means adapted upon said battery supplying said. ignition circuit, with said generator at rest to cause said generator to move as a motor independently of said engine and turn said interrupter to circuit opening position.

3. In ignition apparatus-for internal combustion engines, in combination, an internal combustion engine, a. battery, a. generator driven fromsaid engine through a loose connection adapted to permit a limited range of relative movement, anignition coil, connections between said generator and said battery, and means connecting said ignition coil with said generator and with said battery.

4. In ignition apparatustorinternal combustion engines, in combination, an internal combustionv engine, a battery, a. generator, a brush substantially at a neutral point of the commutator of said genera-tor, a brush spaced from the neutral points of said commutator, an ignition coil, means connecting said ignition roil across said brushes, means adapted to load current from said battery through one or more armature coils of said generator and through said ignition coil, and a loose mechanical connection through which said generator is driven from said engine.

5. In ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines, in combination, an internal combustion engine, a battery, a generator, a brush substantiallyat a neutral point of the commutator of said generator, :1 brush spaced'from the neutral points of said commutator, an ignition coil. means connecting said ignition coil across said brushes, means adapted to lead current from said battery through the armature coils of said generator and through said ignition coil, a loose mechanical connection through which said generator is driven from said engine, a. third brush substantially at a'n'eutral point of said commutator, means adapted to connect said battery between said third brush and one of said first brushes, and means adapted to regulate a function of the output of said generator through said last circuit.

6. In ignition apparatus for internal com bustion engines, in combination, a circuit comprising an interrupting device, a con denser bridged about said device, and means adapted automatically to change the effective capacity of said condenser as the running conditions of the apparatus change.

7. In ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines, in combination, a circuit comprising an interrupting device, a condenser bridged about said device, and means adapted automatically to change the effective capacity of said condenser in accordance with changes in the value of the voltage inipressed on the interruptable circuit.

8. In ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines, in combination, a battery, :1 generator, an ignition circuit, connections between said ignition circuit and said battery, means adapted to connect said generator with said battery, an interrupting device for said ignition circuit, a condenser bridged about said interrupting device, means adapted to connect said generator with said ignition circuit, and means adapted to decrease the efiective capacity of said condenser as the voltage tends to rise with increased speed of said generator.

9. In ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines, in combination, a battery, a generator, an ignition circuit, connections between said ignition circuit and said battery, means adapted to connect said generator with said battery, an interrupting device for said ignition circuit, a condenser bridged about said interrupting device, means adapted to connect said generator with said ignition circuit, means adapted to decrease the effective capacity of said condenser as the speed of said generator increases up to the time when the generator is giving full current in the circuit to said battery, and means adapted automatically to reduce said effective capacity as the speed of said generator increases subsequent to said time.

10. In ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines, in combination, a generator, means adapted to maintain substantially constant a function of the output of said generator as its speed varies, means so connected to said generator as to draw therefrom a current of increasing voltage as the speed of said generator increases, an ignitioncoil connected with said last means, an interrupting device in the circuit of said ignition coil, acondenser bridged about saidinterrupting device, and means adapted to decrease the effective capacity of said condenser as the voltage tends to rise with increased speed of said generator.

11. In ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines, in combination, a circuit comprising an interrupting device, a condenser bridged about said device, means adapted automatically to change the effective capacity of said condenser in accordance With changes in-the value of a characteristic of the energy passing in said interruptable circuit, a generator connectedwith said circuit, and means adapted to increase the voltage impressed on said circuit as the speed of said generator increases.

12. In ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines, in combination, a circuit comprising an interrupting device, a condenser bridged about said device, means adapted automatically to change the eifcctive capacity of said condenser in accordance with changes in the value of a characteristic of the energy passing in said interruptable circuit, a generator connected with said circuit, means adapted to increase the voltage impressed on said circuit as the speed of said generator increases, a battery, a circuit leading from said generator to said battery, and means adapted to maintain substantially constant a function of the current in said last circuit.

13. In ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines, in combination, an internal combustion engine, a battery, a generator driven from said engine, an ignition circuit comprising an interrupter driven from said engine and mechanically connected .with said generator, connections from said battery to said ignition circuit, means adapted, upon said battery supplying said ignition circuit with said engine at rest, to cause said generator to move as a motor and turn said interrupter to circuit opening position, a condenser bridged about said interrupter, and meansadapted automatically to change the efiective capacity of said condenser as said generator changes speed.

14. In ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines, in combination, a circuit comprising an interrupting device, a spark preventing means bridged about said device and means adapted automatically to vary the effectiveness of said spark preventing means as the running condition of the apparatus changes.

In Witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name as attested by the two subscribing witnesses.

LIONEL WOLFFSOHN.

Witnesses:

E. LYNDON, HARRIET S. HAGEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

